View Full Version : I think I have been scammed / hacked -- what do I do?
onomastikon
10-10-2007, 20:59
I didnt even realize this was possible until I read that closed thread on scamming. Since I didnt know what scamming even was about 30 minutes ago, I searched this forum and found an item guide which had an exhaustive scam guide for newbies. (It was here:
http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=382411&page=2 .) Very good.
I just finished reading it and have a huge shock. The thing that poster mentioned about hack programs must have happened to me. It was a month ago and I can no longer remember the circumstances exactly, but someone told me I can get a free newbie kind of an item by going to their d2 website and clicking there-and-there; although I didnt really believe them, I figured I could check out his credentials and see what was going on. It turned out to be just what that poster wrote about, what I only understand now! I thought it was a bug, but there was a program running that made my gateway dissapear. I eventually reinstalled my game and everything seems fine, I forgot the incident by now, but I am pretty sure that whoever that was now has my CD key.
I havent noticed any items gone, but then I dont have anything interesting that anyone would want to steal, maybe they were waiting till I got "big and strong". I just changed the password to my account, too. I dont think they can access my account, but I bet they have my cd key.
Do I need to do anything (besides hit myself for being an idiot)?
Can I do anything?
Grr I feel rotten.
Thanks much.
Crowd Control
10-10-2007, 22:03
It sounds lika a scam, though I can't be sure. Luckily you didn't have much wealth yet at that moment. I think if it stole your CD key (if it is possible at all) you wouldn't be able to log on with yours, I think. Changing the password was the smart thing to do. Maybe start a whole new account to be sure.
Consider it a lesson learned.
HardyTarget
10-10-2007, 22:33
You said you reinstalled but I wouldn't think that's enough.
If you got keylogged, then your items would most likely be gone, or will be gone later.
Reformat is the only "100% safe" way.
Mursilis
10-10-2007, 23:14
Well reformatting may be a bit of overkill. :wink3: Run a full virus scan along with one or two different spyware scans and see if you find anything nasty installed. If you do, run them again until you are clean. Then make sure your firewall is set to a high enough security setting to not allow any unauthorized connections to the internet (ie. the keylogger sending info to the scammer).
It's good that you changed your password, that should keep anyone unauthorized out of your account.
MassiveSin
10-10-2007, 23:26
Run your anit spyware program (Get Adware for free if you don't have one)
Update your definitions on your anti-virus and scan (You better have this since you surf the net)
Get a trail version of Window Washer, run it.
I find it is the next best thing to full reformat
onomastikon
11-10-2007, 11:00
Thanks.
I dont have that software yet, but I will get it and run it.
You mention "keylogged" -- even if my system is now clean, but they have my cd key, does that mean that sooner or later I wont be able to play D2 with my current disk because they will somehow obliterate it or do nasty stuff so that the key is banned or something? I mean: Even if I were to "reformat" (which I really dont have the strength to do now), does that mean my game is now trash? (It's been ok for about 3.5 weeks so far...)
thanks much
keyloggers dont just grab cd keys, they can grab whatever you type
if you typed in your cd key they could get it, along with your acct/passwords for d2 and other stuff
onomastikon
11-10-2007, 12:56
So if thtey still have a program running on my machine, they can see whatever I type?
(But passwords are always entered in asterisks ****** right? So at least they cant see that?)
Crowd Control
11-10-2007, 13:27
Well it reads which key you strike so it can still take advantage of your pws. The astreriks are only for peering-over-your-shoulder-lurkers.
most keylogger programs wont show up on the task manager or startup list in msconfig
that makes them tough to track down without a spyware/antivirus program to fix it for you
onomastikon
11-10-2007, 13:41
Christ.
I didnt know that. So conceivably, they could be reading my online banking pin???
Jesus Christ.
Thanks.
If that's the case I coudnt care less about my D2 key, I just dont want them mistreating my computer.
OK I have "Spybot Search and Destroy", which was recommended to me. I am running it now. This is good, right? Before running it, I asked it to get the most recent updates.
This will be able to find a "keylogger"? And eliminate it?
Anything else I must do?
(Must I also throw away my D2 game and go buy a new one with a new install key number?)
THANK YOU PEOPLE for your help.
Christ.
I didnt know that. So conceivably, they could be reading my online banking pin???
Jesus Christ.
Thanks.
If that's the case I coudnt care less about my D2 key, I just dont want them mistreating my computer.
OK I have "Spybot Search and Destroy", which was recommended to me. I am running it now. This is good, right? Before running it, I asked it to get the most recent updates.
This will be able to find a "keylogger"? And eliminate it?
Anything else I must do?
(Must I also throw away my D2 game and go buy a new one with a new install key number?)
THANK YOU PEOPLE for your help.
I would recommend Hitman Pro 2 (just google it), it is free of charge and it will use multiple antispyware programs to scan and clean your computer.
I have bought Webroot myself, it now shields my pc against spyware, I also have Norton security center. I just upgraded the subscriptions on both, since I always buy them from the US sites they were cheap now with the current rate. (yay for USD 1,41: EUR1)
Mursilis
11-10-2007, 15:56
I wouldn't get rid of your DII game unless you start having problems getting in. Once you've done your scans and made sure your computer is clean I'd suggest changing your password one more time to be safe.
You'll need more than just spyware, an antivirus program is necessary as well. Norton and McAfee are common ones with yearly subscriptions. If your computer attaches to the internet, your really need antivirus, spyware and a firewall to be safe.
For example I have AdAware and Spysweeper for my spyware scanning, Norton for antivirus and McAfee for a firewall. So far nothing has gotten by them (*knocks on wood*)
MassiveSin
11-10-2007, 16:08
Christ.
I didnt know that. So conceivably, they could be reading my online banking pin???
Jesus Christ.
Thanks.
If that's the case I coudnt care less about my D2 key, I just dont want them mistreating my computer.
OK I have "Spybot Search and Destroy", which was recommended to me. I am running it now. This is good, right? Before running it, I asked it to get the most recent updates.
This will be able to find a "keylogger"? And eliminate it?
Anything else I must do?
(Must I also throw away my D2 game and go buy a new one with a new install key number?)
THANK YOU PEOPLE for your help.
Spybot is good, however for me, I have used adware right after spybot and it found things that spybot didn't. I also tried the other way and spybot didn't find anything after adware ran.
Here's a link it is also free.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
I would also recommend that if you do online bank from your computer, AFTER you have run those programs I mentioned or other mentioned to scan, to then go into your bank, credit cards, email accounts, etc that you think/know you went to on your CPU after you visited that site and change them.
Chances are that you don't need to panic about it (as long as you didn't type your SS# or can accesses it through your bank which most you can't).
HardyTarget
11-10-2007, 23:04
Virus scanners don't necessarily find homemade keyloggers, wouldn't be the first time.
Reformatting is the only 100% safe way, it depends how full your computer is etc etc, if it's worth the time.
Another vote for Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. I'll also recommend AVG Free.
I use and like all of those.
Note that the free version of AVG waits until working hours to run daily, so you can see it. :) Slows things down and pops some screens up on you, but hey, it's free.
I've found Norton getting more cumbersome by the year and also very, very difficult to uninstall.
themightypuck
13-10-2007, 12:37
I got keylogged in WOW and I was locked down cold up to date virus/spyware/firewall. The keylogger was not on norton/mcaffee/fsecure. I think they got me with a non up to date ms explorer (only program not totally latest version) but I never really figured it out. I'm pretty careful. Now I run Firefox with noscript extension but it is a pain since most sites won't let you do jack without letting them run scripts.
onomastikon
15-10-2007, 12:04
OK thanks for all your tips. I'm back online now and will give it a second try. Extra cautious now!
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